Rock Solid: Round Rock Business Leaders Podcast

Round Rock Studio

Join host Bryan Eisenberg for candid conversations with Round Rock’s most dynamic entrepreneurs and business leaders. Each week, in bite-sized 20-minute episodes, successful local business owners share their journeys, challenges, and triumphs of building thriving enterprises in our growing Texas community. Rock Solid connects you with the real stories and practical wisdom of Round Rock’s business community. From innovative startups to established companies, each episode offers valuable insights into the vibrant business ecosystem that makes Round Rock unique.

  1. 1d ago

    98. Jennifer Hicks | Making Faith-Based Counseling Affordable

    Jennifer Hicks joins Bryan Eisenberg to share the journey behind Streams in the Valley Counseling, a nonprofit, faith-based mental health counseling center in Round Rock. Located in the former parsonage at Palm Valley Lutheran Church near Highway 79, Kalahari, and Dell Diamond, the center was created to provide personal, client-focused counseling with a mission of making care more accessible and affordable. With 28 years of counseling experience, Jennifer discusses her path from studying psychology at Texas Tech and working in counseling centers to launching a nonprofit in 2024 and welcoming clients in January 2025. She explains the need for reduced-fee counseling, the value of faith-based care for clients seeking that connection, support for church workers and ministry families, and the challenges and rewards of building a nonprofit with the help of a volunteer board and community partnerships. Rock Solid is brought to you by host Bryan Eisenberg, a New York Times bestselling author, digital pioneer and co-owner of A Place At Home - North Austin, a Round Rock based home care agency. Bill Combes, owner of a local Round Rock digital marketing agency, No Time for Social. Brent Pierce, owner of Round Rock Studio, empowering local businesses to share their stories with his two podcast sets and state of the art photo studio.

    98. Jennifer Hicks | Making Faith-Based Counseling Affordable

  2. Oct 28

    97. Brett Hurt: Why Austin-Round Rock Is Built for Entrepreneurs

    In this episode of Rock Solid, host Bryan Eisenberg sits down with longtime friend and Austin native Brett Hurt, the entrepreneur behind Coremetrics, Bazaarvoice, and data.world. Brett reflects on his family’s roots in Round Rock, what the region was like growing up, and why Austin-Round Rock remains a uniquely authentic place to build a business, raise a family, and connect with a community that lifts people up. Brett shares his perspective on the region’s accelerating tech ecosystem, from SpaceX and deep tech to AI, robotics, and advanced manufacturing. He also explains how his early programming experiences, his grandfather’s lessons about money, freedom, and health, and his belief that “love conquers fear” shaped his leadership philosophy. The conversation explores building high-performing company cultures, creating businesses where people can thrive, entrepreneurship versus chasing wealth, and themes from Brett’s book, Love Conquers Fear: Humanity, AI, and the Future of Abundance for All. Rock Solid is brought to you by host Bryan Eisenberg, a New York Times bestselling author, digital pioneer and co-owner of A Place At Home - North Austin, a Round Rock based home care agency. Bill Combes, owner of a local Round Rock digital marketing agency, No Time for Social. Brent Pierce, owner of Round Rock Studio, empowering local businesses to share their stories with his two podcast sets and state of the art photo studio.

    97. Brett Hurt: Why Austin-Round Rock Is Built for Entrepreneurs

  3. Oct 20

    96. Ali Khataw | From Immigrant Entrepreneur to Community Leader

    Bryan Eisenberg sits down with Ali Khataw, CEO of Encotech Engineering and a Round Rock Chamber board member, to explore his remarkable journey from arriving in the United States alone to building a successful engineering firm that has now been in business for 35 years. Ali shares how his entrepreneurial path, board service, and commitment to the Round Rock and Central Texas business communities are all rooted in one core value: meaningful human connection. Ali also discusses his lifelong passion for photography and how it evolved from photojournalism at the University of Arkansas into humanitarian storytelling around the world. He reflects on documenting transgender communities in Pakistan, photographing artists and faith traditions in Oaxaca, Mexico, and using curiosity, empathy, and probing questions to help people share their authentic stories. The conversation also covers lessons for entrepreneurs on visibility, taking risks, learning from failure, collaborative leadership, and the impact Leadership Austin had on Ali’s approach to building a stronger team and community. Rock Solid is brought to you by host Bryan Eisenberg, a New York Times bestselling author, digital pioneer and co-owner of A Place At Home - North Austin, a Round Rock based home care agency. Bill Combes, owner of a local Round Rock digital marketing agency, No Time for Social. Brent Pierce, owner of Round Rock Studio, empowering local businesses to share their stories with his two podcast sets and state of the art photo studio.

    96. Ali Khataw | From Immigrant Entrepreneur to Community Leader

  4. Oct 13

    95. Brandon Janecka | The 3 Pillars of Athletic Performance

    Bryan Eisenberg sits down with Brandon Janecka of True Grind Systems to explore how youth athletic training can shape far more than physical ability. Brandon shares the impact of training athletes like Bryan’s son, Sammy, whose experiences in the gym helped develop responsibility, servant leadership, confidence, and the resilience to pursue a career as a baseball specialty manager at Scheels. Brandon breaks down True Grind Systems’ three pillars of performance: the body, the control panel, and belief. They discuss strength, mobility, injury prevention, nervous-system training, reaction time, emotional intelligence, and why athletes must learn to process disappointment rather than hide from it. Brandon also shares stories of local athletes overcoming setbacks, the dangers of perfectionism in sports, and memorable experiences training and catching professional baseball talent including David Goforth, Mason Thompson, and Mason Cole. Rock Solid is brought to you by host Bryan Eisenberg, a New York Times bestselling author, digital pioneer and co-owner of A Place At Home - North Austin, a Round Rock based home care agency. Bill Combes, owner of a local Round Rock digital marketing agency, No Time for Social. Brent Pierce, owner of Round Rock Studio, empowering local businesses to share their stories with his two podcast sets and state of the art photo studio.

    95. Brandon Janecka | The 3 Pillars of Athletic Performance

  5. Oct 7

    94. Kasey Jorgenson: From Rescue Swimmer to Real Estate Leader

    In this episode of Rock Solid, Bryan Eisenberg sits down with Kasey Jorgenson to explore how his experience as a Navy rescue swimmer shaped his approach to leadership, high-stakes decision-making, and entrepreneurship. Kasey shares how training for stressful situations, refusing to quit through an 86% attrition pipeline, and staying calm when deals become complicated now helps him support real estate agents and clients through the pressure of buying and selling homes. Kasey also discusses building an independent real estate brokerage in Round Rock after more than 15 years with a major brokerage brand. The conversation covers why his team prioritizes systems, training, negotiation skills, and agent mastery over rapid growth; how new agents can navigate the peaks and valleys of self-employment; and how AI, spoken-word content, YouTube, Google Business Profiles, and local trust signals are changing how consumers find the right real estate expert in Williamson County. Rock Solid is brought to you by host Bryan Eisenberg, a New York Times bestselling author, digital pioneer and co-owner of A Place At Home - North Austin, a Round Rock based home care agency. Bill Combes, owner of a local Round Rock digital marketing agency, No Time for Social. Brent Pierce, owner of Round Rock Studio, empowering local businesses to share their stories with his two podcast sets and state of the art photo studio.

    94. Kasey Jorgenson: From Rescue Swimmer to Real Estate Leader

  6. Sep 30

    93. Kristin Stevens | Building Round Rock’s Future Through Service

    Round Rock Mayor Pro Tem Kristin Stevens joins Bryan Eisenberg to share her deeply personal connection to the city she now helps lead. Growing up in a family rooted in community service, Kristin reflects on her father’s longtime civic leadership, childhood memories of Blue Santa, Meals on Wheels, Frontier Days, Sertoma, and the stewardship values that shaped her career and public service. Kristin discusses Round Rock’s evolution from a small farming community to one of the fastest-growing areas in the country, including the challenge of balancing big dreams with responsible growth. She also shares why she left a 22-year career in healthcare to serve on City Council, lessons in listening to different perspectives and developing a thick skin, and a full-circle story about being the first person engaged at Dell Diamond—now a place her own family enjoys across generations. Rock Solid is brought to you by host Bryan Eisenberg, a New York Times bestselling author, digital pioneer and co-owner of A Place At Home - North Austin, a Round Rock based home care agency. Bill Combes, owner of a local Round Rock digital marketing agency, No Time for Social. Brent Pierce, owner of Round Rock Studio, empowering local businesses to share their stories with his two podcast sets and state of the art photo studio.

    93. Kristin Stevens | Building Round Rock’s Future Through Service

  7. Sep 22

    92. Jennifer McPeak | Why Recovery Beats Hustle Culture

    Jennifer McPeak of Evolve Social Wellness joins Bryan Eisenberg on Rock Solid to explore why recovery, connection, and nervous-system regulation matter as much as working harder. Jennifer shares how her background in marriage and family studies, trauma-informed care, and equine-assisted psychotherapy shaped her approach to creating a wellness space that helps people slow down, reconnect with their bodies, and recover physically and emotionally. The conversation covers cold plunges, compression therapy, stress, complex PTSD, burnout, and the hidden cost of living in constant fight-or-flight mode. Jennifer and Bryan discuss the pressure entrepreneurs, professionals, athletes, and even high-performing young adults face to keep pushing—and why intentional recovery can improve mental health, physical performance, relationships, and resilience. They also talk about Evolve Social Wellness's mission to create more meaningful social connection and community in Round Rock, Texas. Rock Solid is brought to you by host Bryan Eisenberg, a New York Times bestselling author, digital pioneer and co-owner of A Place At Home - North Austin, a Round Rock based home care agency. Bill Combes, owner of a local Round Rock digital marketing agency, No Time for Social. Brent Pierce, owner of Round Rock Studio, empowering local businesses to share their stories with his two podcast sets and state of the art photo studio.

    92. Jennifer McPeak | Why Recovery Beats Hustle Culture

  8. Sep 15

    91. Judge Steve Snell | Williamson County’s Explosive Growth

    County Judge Steve Snell joins Bryan Eisenberg on Rock Solid to explain what a Texas county judge actually does—and why the role is more like serving as a county CEO and emergency manager than presiding over a courtroom. Steve shares how Williamson County’s Commissioners Court supports essential services, from transportation, fleet operations, animal shelters, and juvenile justice to public safety, emergency response, and disaster preparedness following historic flooding. Drawing on his 31-year career in education, including leadership roles in Hutto and Liberty Hill ISD, Steve discusses how rapid population growth prepared him to lead one of the nation’s fastest-growing counties. The conversation explores Williamson County’s distinct communities, economic development opportunities, attracting major employers, workforce development, trade education, higher education, veteran employment, and helping young people discover entrepreneurship and career paths close to home. Rock Solid is brought to you by host Bryan Eisenberg, a New York Times bestselling author, digital pioneer and co-owner of A Place At Home - North Austin, a Round Rock based home care agency. Bill Combes, owner of a local Round Rock digital marketing agency, No Time for Social. Brent Pierce, owner of Round Rock Studio, empowering local businesses to share their stories with his two podcast sets and state of the art photo studio.

    91. Judge Steve Snell | Williamson County’s Explosive Growth
See All (98)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Join host Bryan Eisenberg for candid conversations with Round Rock’s most dynamic entrepreneurs and business leaders. Each week, in bite-sized 20-minute episodes, successful local business owners share their journeys, challenges, and triumphs of building thriving enterprises in our growing Texas community. Rock Solid connects you with the real stories and practical wisdom of Round Rock’s business community. From innovative startups to established companies, each episode offers valuable insights into the vibrant business ecosystem that makes Round Rock unique.

Information

You Might Also Like